An LGBT+ characters 101 for non-LGBT+ writers: a thread.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked how to write a non-binary character. I gave the best answer I could have given considering we're on twitter, but I left out SO MUCH.

But I just saw @thelemonwitch_ tweet the same exact thread about muslim characters (go follow her before you keep reading, please) so, here I am, writing everything I left out.

IMPORTANT: 90% of what I'll say is relevant to all the people in the LBGT+ community, but I speak as a gay [white] man, so take that into consideration. I can only know so much within my own community.

Let's start:

If you want to write a gay character, you need to know gay people.
If you don't know a single gay person (strange) then turn to social media.

BUT don't think that knowing someone who's gay allows you to write/say whatever (and however) you want.

The purpose of knowing someone who embodies the characters that you want to write, is to get to know better a reality different than your own, and by doing so learn how to portray the people who live and breathe that reality every day of their lives, in the right way.

Stop seeing gay people as victims.
YES, queer people go through things that a straight person will NEVER have to face. That is true.
But we are sooo much more than the victims of a fucked up society.

If you don't know what else to write once you take the homophobia out of the equation, then you don't know what it actually means to be gay. Homophobia IS a part of every gay person's life, but it shouldn't be all you show to your readers.

I should have said this earlier but, LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GAY FIRST. You can start doing that by learing the difference between gender, sex and sexual orientation (but definitely don't stop there).

Very quickly:

- sex is JUST what each of us has down there (nothing more) and it shouldn't define who we are as people.
- sexual orientation, is who/what we are attracted to.
- gender is how each one of us see ourselves and how we wish to be seen by others.

Oh, trans women are women.
And giving to transgender women the rights and the respect and the dignity they diserve, won't take anything away from cisgender women.

:)

STOP giving into stereotypes.
Yes, you can write a gay character who's into fashion. Nothing wrong with that. But if that's all that character is, "gay and into fashion", then there's a problem. There's something missing.

You can have a stereotypically gay character in your book, but not a gay stereotype: your character has to be a person before they are gay.

Representation is good only when it's done correctly.
Which can be said for everyone, of course.

By the way, you don't need to write an LBGT+ novel, to have LGBT+ characters in your book.

Also, having a gay character in your book doesn't necessarily make you an ally.

:)

Queerbaiting is real. Please don't!

Homosexuality isn't the default of heterosexuality.
Sexuality is fluid. Don't have in a book with—let's say—20 characters, only one gay character. Homosexuality is JUST ONE of many different sexualities.
Don't add in your book a gay character just to "spice things up."

If your first draft (the draft we write knowing that no one will read it but us) didn't have a gay character, then unless you significantly re-write your story, you probably don't need gay characters.

LGBT+ characters should come in many different ways: as parents, as teachers, as neighbors, as... idk, plumbers!

Remember that the life of a white gay person, is completely different than the life of a black gay person. White gay people, especially men, are the privileged members of our community. So, if you're writing something socially/politically involved, take that into consideration.

Don't expect a gold medal (in Italy we say, "una statua d'oro," a golden statue) just because you have gay characters in your books.
To quote @thatonequee , I don't believe in applauding people for doing what's right.

Read as many LGBT+ novel before you write an LGBT+ novel or any novel with LGBT+ characters.

I have intentionally left out any implication that might occur once you do add politics and religion into the pot.

That falls under the "stop seeing gay people as victims" advice.
I am personally tired of reading just one narrative. But that's just me. If you do intend to write/are writing a politically and/or religiously involved book, do it with caution and understanding.

I believe in you!

If you have anything to add (and you are a member of the LGBT+ community)